The Boneyard: The Ceramics Teaching Collection
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
LSU Museum of Art (LSU MOA) in Baton Rouge, LA is pleased to open on July 8, 2021, The Boneyard: The Ceramics Teaching Collection. Inspired by the visiting artist tradition, The Boneyard: The Ceramics Teaching Collection presents the energy and legacy of ceramics demonstrations through bisqueware. Bisque refers to the state achieved after a wet clay demo is completed and then fired once. What remains is a porous, unglazed record of the visiting artist’s creative process that can be referenced year after year by professors and students. Included in this exhibition are over 200 bisque works that provide a valued resource for LSU School of Art’s top-ten ranked ceramics program. The ever-growing collection will be displayed at LSU MOA to imitate the classroom use of the boneyard. The “boneyard” refers to bisque works and how they are stored in studio spaces for teaching and ceramics demonstrations. It's known for its unique display on high shelves in the studio, with many bisque works together, showcasing a variety of techniques, improvisation, and skill. Faculty and instructors pull bisque objects from the shelves in order to highlight specific techniques and attributes of form, only to return the bisque back to the shelf so they can grab another set of objects.
This exhibition will feature rotating displays and a demonstration space that will be activated by MFA students, local artists, and visiting artists to allow museum visitors to share in the boneyard tradition—to watch clay transform and to see artist-specific techniques shared in the openness of the craft tradition. Artists featured: Andrew Martin, Kristen Kieffer, Jen Allen, Joanna Powell, Doug Peltzman, Lisa Orr, John Gill, Jeremy Brooks, Lauren Gallaspy, Kevin Snipes, Mike Jabbur, Mike Helke, Matt Mitros, Sam Chung, Matt Towers, Kim Dickey, Mary Louise Carter, Joe Bova, David Eichelberger, Matt Metz, Kensuke Yamada, Tip Toland, TJ Erdahl, Ryan Wilson Kelly, Jeremy Hatch, Jason Bige Burnett (additional artists may be added to this exhibition).
This exhibition is a collaboration between LSU Museum of Art and LSU School of Art and is curated by LSU Ceramics Associate Professor Andy Shaw, LSU MOA Curator Courtney Taylor, and LSU MOA Educator Grant Benoit.
IMAGES (left to right): sauce boat by Jen Allen; mug by John Gill; head by Kensuke Yamada; handled vase by John Gill; teapot by Mike Jabbur; caged vessel by Jen Allen; rabbit by Joe Bova; pitcher by Jen Allen; cup and saucer by Lisa Orr; upside-down head by Kensuke Yamada; white mug by Lauren Gallaspy; cup by Doug Peltzman; Bisque works featured are unfinished ceramic works used for teaching purposes.
ON VIEW AT LSU MOA July 8, 2021–February 13, 2022
2022 SEMC EXHIBITION AWARD WINNER: Bronze Award for the under $25,000 exhibition category
Feature Rotation Schedule
Two displays in The Boneyard will feature different artworks and thematic elements by different artists. Look for these in The Boneyard galleries.
Feature Rotation 1
July 8–September 19, 2021
Artist: Andrew Martin
Theme: Innovative Form
Feature Rotation 2
September 21–December 5, 2021
Artist: Joanna Powell
Theme: Pushing Material Boundaries
Feature Rotation 3
December 7, 2021–February 13, 2022
Artist: Kari Radasch
Theme: Surface Design
LSU MOA Installation
Exhibition Lenders & Sponsors
This exhibition is a collaboration between LSU Museum of Art and LSU School of Art and is curated by LSU Ceramics Associate Professor Andy Shaw, LSU MOA Curator Courtney Taylor, and LSU MOA Educator Grant Benoit. Programming sponsored by Louisiana CAT.
LSU MOA thanks the generous donors to the LSU MOA Annual Exhibition Fund: Louisiana CAT; The Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund in memory of Heidel Brown and Mary Ann Brown; The Alma Lee, H.N. and Cary Saurage Fund; Robert and Linda Bowsher; LSU College of Art + Design; Mr. and Mrs. Sanford A. Arst; and The Newton B. Thomas Family/Newtron Group Fund..
Upcoming Lectures and Programs
Watch Virtual Programs
Visiting ceramics artist Jessica Brandl stopped by the LSU Museum of Art for two days of demos in the exhibition The Boneyard: The Ceramics Teaching Collection in-gallery studio space. These programs were sponsored by the LSU School of Art and CASA (Ceramic Art Student Association) of LSU Ceramics.
Past Events
Press
Form & Fire: American Studio Ceramics from the E. John Bullard Collection and The Boneyard: The Ceramics Teaching Collection featured online for Ceramics Now magazine. Click here to read.